Kendra Wingate – Minuteman News Center – With a history that spans more than a century, The Center for Family Justice prepares to transform into the state’s first Family Justice Center. A Gratitude Gala was held in recognition of the Center’s many supporters without whom they would not be able to mark this significant milestone.
The Gratitude Gala, the first of its kind, provided the Center with an opportunity to thank its generous leaders and supporters who have guided them from humble beginnings as a YWCA, later to The Center for Women & Families, and now into their new role as The Center for Family Justice.
The sold-out event was held at the Patterson Club, as the Center celebrated more than 100 years spent serving the needs of women, men and children impacted by domestic and sexual violence and abuse in the communities of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull in an effort to end the cycle of violence within these communities.
According to the Center’s most recent annual report, the support of nearly 2,000 large and small contributors has allowed it to provide direct help to a total of 8,567 women, children, men and families by offering services to these clients which include crisis counseling and emergency shelter in their safe house, legal aid and ongoing support leading them toward lives free of violence and abuse with an emphasis on greater self-sufficiency.
“Becoming a Family Justice Center has been a long, ambitious process, but we are grateful to the many supporters and donors and community leaders who have helped make this dream become a reality,” explained Debra Greenwood, CEO and President of the Center. “In many cases our devoted supporters have gone above and beyond to help us transform the way we provide services to victims of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse. It is truly something to celebrate.”
The Gratitude Gala honored special guests including Elizabeth M. Pfriem, Gala Title Sponsor; and keynote speakers Governor Dannel Malloy and his wife, Cathy Malloy, who have been steadfast supporters of the Center for Family Justice’s transformation, playing a key role in supporting a $1.2 million state bond that helped underwrite a major renovation at the Center’s Headquarters at 753 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport.
Additional key supportive business and community leaders included former Connecticut DMV Commissioner and State Senator Andres Ayala; Aquarion Water Company, Bigelow Tea Company, Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival, Fairfield County Community Foundation, the Irwin W. and Dorothy M. Nessel Foundation, Patriot Bank and Verizon Wireless Foundation. United States Senator Richard Blumenthal was in attendance and showed his support with a special presentation. Also in attendance were First Selectman Mike Tetreau, State Rep. Cristin Vahey McCarthy, Selectman Chris Tymniak, and State Senator Tony Hwang.
“It was a fantastic evening. It is obviously a very important cause for our community to come out and support,” said Tetreau. “I was overwhelmed with the response from our community. It’s another statement of the generosity of our community and how special the people in our community really are. They came out on a Friday night to support this very important cause that too often goes under reported and under publicized.”
“We are so excited to be here, after five years of planning with volunteers, board members, community groups, the State of Connecticut and all of our local legislatures, it is such a we community event. Here we are finally opening the first Justice Center in Connecticut, April 4 we will cut the ribbon and this evening is all about gratitude and celebration,” continued Greenwood.
Fairfield residents and co-chairs Pauline “Pawnee” Biggs, Jill Fitzburgh and Karen Izzo, led the volunteer planning efforts for the first Gratitude Gala.
“I feel like the Center is getting the recognition it deserves because they save lives, change lives and inspire lives every day,” said Fitzburgh. “If you spend an hour there, you can see it. They deal with crucial issues in there and this brings more awareness to people. The people who work there are the real deal, doing God’s work. It’s a privilege to be involved.”
“We are so thankful for all our supporters through the years,” said Gala Planning Committee Member Donna Craft. “Five years ago the Family Justice Center was just a dream, now on April 4 when we cut the ribbon, it will be a reality and this event is to thank all the people who have supported the Center for so long. We are so grateful to them.”
Within the past year the Center has answered more than 950 calls on a 24-hour crisis hotline, assisted with civil and criminal court processes for more than 2,500 survivors of domestic abuse, responded to more than 500 survivors of sexual assault and their families, provided a safe home for more than 100 woman and children fleeing domestic abuse, coordinated investigations for more than 170 cases of child sexual and severe physical abuse, provided service and safety plans, psycho-educational support and more.
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